Dear all, Thank you, Jimson, for your insightful reflections and for contextualizing the IGF’s evolution. I completely agree that the IGF has come a long way since its inception. Your point about AI being part of WSIS Action Line C7 is well taken—it's important to ensure we're not letting policy hype obscure the layered and ongoing relevance of existing governance frameworks. At the same time, I believe we must balance this continuity with a pragmatic look forward. The geopolitical landscape has undeniably shifted. While IGF's value as a non-normative, capacity-building space remains core, its future relevance will hinge on whether it can inform real policy influence, particularly for actors not traditionally central to Internet governance. That’s why I see the IGF’s role increasingly as a strategic bridge—yes, still grounded in dialogue and best practice sharing, but also more actively feeding into instruments like the GDC, SDG review, and even national digital strategies. As you noted, improvements could include leveraging AI to synthesize and elevate outputs—but also perhaps to identify underrepresented policy patterns across NRIs and other forums. On funding, I strongly support your call. I remain hopeful that this conversation can help shape an IGF that’s not only preserved but meaningfully evolved. Warm regards, *Pari* On Wed, May 21, 2025 at 12:03 AM Jimson Olufuye, PhD. via wsis20 < wsis20@icann.org> wrote:
Interesting idea, Kiki! Making all the NRIs dovetail into the annual WSIS review is interesting and may cut off the "grand redundancy" - the global IGF:) This may make the case for IGF to just be renewed for another 10 years and not made permanent until the National and Regional IGF Initiatives mature.
Nick,
As much as I can recall, the UN General Assembly, which includes Russia, approved the "Pact for the Future" last September in New York, and IGF is recognised in the GDC (para 70) as IMPORTANT to the implementation of the GDC. So, I don't see IGF becoming insignificant anytime soon. TO your point on AI dialogue displacing it, I also adjudge this to be much of a hype. AI/genAI are E-applications and they fall into the WSIS Action Line C7 (eApplications). On the WSIS+20 Review, I consider the only change desirable is to add "Artificial Intelligence" as one of the Applications under AL C7. This does not mean that there is no need to focus on it as recommended in the GDC.
In April this year, CSTD further underscored the important role of IGF in Internet Governance and digital policy discussions, and this sentiment will extend to ECOSOC and finally to the GA when a decision on WSIS will be made later this year.
Pari,
I was in the CSTD WG on IGF Improvement in 2011 and retreat in 2016 on the occasion of the 10th Anniversary of the IGF. Indeed, the IGF has come a long way. Improvement today can come in the use of AI to synthesize its output documents. But as you know, IGF is not a resolution-making body, it is designed to be for capacity development, networking, and fostering best practices that can translate to local or regional initiatives and feed into other discussion fora as you mentioned. The CSTD is for resolution-making, and as I indicated in my recent article (https://circleid.com/posts/wsis20-igf-ec-gdc-and-the-future-of-digital), it is already fulfilling the Tunis Agenda (para 68) mandate on Enhanced Cooperation on public policy matters pertaining to the Internet with Russia as a member.
Irrespective of whether IGF is incorporated into the UN system, we (in ICANN) must take the lead to provide predictable annual funding for the IGF through, say, a certain percentage of the accruing interest in the Auction Proceeds, as I mentioned before. It is in our interest to do so. The concern about some governments against IGF is simply to setup another UN entity to take over the work of ICANN. The move had failed in the past, and we should NOT let that happen!? Not now or anytime in the future.
So, Jason, the scope of the article, the "IGF we want," is ok from my perspective. If you wish to do another one on WSIS; it may be plausible to recognise that Enhanced Cooperation per para 68 is operational in CSTD, ICANN GAC, and in other fora so that countries concerned by it can have closure.
Jimson
On 2025-05-20 04:55, Kiki Fong Lim wrote:
I'm keen on that too. And hello from a sunny winter in QLD, Australia!
Dumb newbie question - Why not get rid of the 'eurovision' grand finale IGF and work on localised and regional outputs and merge into the annual WSIS forum? A bit late to the whiteboard, but I've only just realised WSIS still runs beyond 10 year reviews!
Also I may have cut off the rest of the mailing list.
Kiki
On Tue, 20 May 2025, 4:35 am Carlos Reyes via wsis20, <wsis20@icann.org> wrote:
Thank you, Jimson and Nick.
Hi all,
Following up on this discussion, please let us know if there are any comments or suggestions to build out in “The IGF We Want” paper, so that we can incorporate it into a next iteration.
Best, Carlos
Carlos Reyes
Senior Policy Director
Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers
Washington, D.C. Engagement Center
From: "Ashton-Hart, Nick" <nashtonhart@apcoworldwide.com> Date: Thursday, May 8, 2025 at 5:46 PM To: "Jimson Olufuye, PhD." <jolufuye@kontemporary.net.ng>, Carlos Reyes <carlos.reyes@icann.org> Cc: Kiki Fong Lim via wsis20 <wsis20@icann.org> Subject: [Ext] Re: [wsis20] Re: Share Your Thoughts: The IGF We Want
Some good ideas.
What I would put to you all though is we really need governments to add the IGF into the UN budget. That hasn’t happened because too many of them still don’t see enough of a value-add to going. Some of that is because the IGF is in the way of their political objectives vis a vis control of the Internet, but that doesn’t cover them all.
It seems to me this year is a good moment to ask ourselves – and some of them – what a more valuable IGF would consist of for them other than making it a negotiating forum.
Nick Ashton-Hart APCO (m) +1 202 779 1072 [1]
Book time to meet with me here [outlook.office.com] [2]
On 5/8/25, 5:30 PM, "Jimson Olufuye, PhD. via wsis20" <wsis20@icann.org> wrote:
Hi Carlos,
Yes. I subscribe to this.
On the point of Financial Stability of "The IGF We Want":
"*Develop a clear budget proposal for funding that is adequate to ensure the stability and continuity of the IGF. Seek diverse funding from businesses, civil society, governments, and technical community, with a targeted annual budget. ▪ Encourage long-term (e.g. five year) contributing commitments for long-term planning to pilot areas of need, and afford the opportunity to assess longer-term budgetary and strategic needs."
As a frontline Technical Community member, can we (ICANN) lead the way in providing some predictable funding mechanism for the IGF? How about appropriating a small percentage of the annual interest accruing from the Auction Proceeds to the IGF Stabilization Fund?
Thoughts?
Cheers,
JO
--- Jimson Olufuye PhD (fncs, ficma, c.ITP, PRINCE2, CISA, CISM, CRISC, PhD) Chairman, Advisory Council, AfICTA.africa Chairman, Kontemporary® Konsulting Ltd Consulting | Outsourcing | Cybersecurity Systems Integration | Software Engineering
https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kontemp...
[kontemporary.net.ng] [3] Cell: +234 816 5012368
This email is for the exclusive recipient/s and it may contain confidential materials. If you have received it and it is not meant for you, please alert me @ jolufuye@kontemporary.net.ng or discard at once. Thank you.
On 2025-05-08 20:40, Carlos Reyes via wsis20 wrote:
Hello, WSIS+20 Outreach Network.
ICANN has developed a working draft of _The IGF We Want. _See PDF attached. The document reflects what ICANN has heard in the past several months.
Please review it and share your thoughts and suggestions on this mailing list. We welcome your input and look forward to the discussion.
Best, Carlos
Carlos Reyes
Senior Policy Director
Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers
Washington, D.C. Engagement Center _______________________________________________
Learn more about the WSIS+20 Outreach Network and review relevant resources:
https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgo.icann.o...
[go.icann.org] [4]
Read the public archives for this mailing list:
https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmm.icann.o...
[5]
_______________________________________________ By submitting your personal data, you consent to the processing of
your
personal data for purposes of subscribing to this mailing list accordance with the ICANN Privacy Policy
( https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.icann....
[6]) and the website Terms of Service
( https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.icann....
[7]). You can visit the Mailman link
above to change your membership status or configuration, including
unsubscribing, setting digest-style delivery or disabling delivery
altogether (e.g., for a vacation), and so on.
Learn more about the WSIS+20 Outreach Network and review relevant resources:
https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgo.icann.o...
[go.icann.org] [4]
Read the public archives for this mailing list:
https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmm.icann.o...
[5]
_______________________________________________ By submitting your personal data, you consent to the processing of your personal data for purposes of subscribing to this mailing list accordance with the ICANN Privacy Policy
( https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.icann....
[6]) and the website Terms of Service
( https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.icann....
[7]). You can visit the Mailman link above to change your membership status or configuration, including unsubscribing, setting digest-style delivery or disabling delivery altogether (e.g., for a vacation), and so on.
-------------------------
DATA HANDLING
For data handling questions, please view our Privacy Policy [apcoworldwide.com] [8] or contact us at privacy@apcoworldwide.com [apcoworldwide.com] [9] with any inquiries.
CONFIDENTIALITY
This email may contain material that is confidential, privileged and/or work product for the sole use of the intended recipient. Any review, reliance or distribution by others or forwarding without express permission is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender and delete all copies. _______________________________________________
Learn more about the WSIS+20 Outreach Network and review relevant resources: https://go.icann.org/wsis20
Read the public archives for this mailing list: https://mm.icann.org/pipermail/wsis20/
_______________________________________________ By submitting your personal data, you consent to the processing of your personal data for purposes of subscribing to this mailing list accordance with the ICANN Privacy Policy (https://www.icann.org/privacy/policy) and the website Terms of Service (https://www.icann.org/privacy/tos). You can visit the Mailman link above to change your membership status or configuration, including unsubscribing, setting digest-style delivery or disabling delivery altogether (e.g., for a vacation), and so on.
Links: ------ [1] tel:+12027791072 [2]
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/ce911a...
[3]
https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/www.kontemporary.net.ng/__;!!PtGJab4!6m8sw...
[4]
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/go.icann.org/wsis20__;!!PtGJab4!6m8swpDc8...
[5] https://mm.icann.org/pipermail/wsis20/ [6] https://www.icann.org/privacy/policy [7] https://www.icann.org/privacy/tos [8]
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/apcoworldwide.com/privacy-policy/__;!!PtG...
[9]
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/*20privacy@apcoworldwide.com/__;JQ!!PtGJa... _______________________________________________
Learn more about the WSIS+20 Outreach Network and review relevant resources: https://go.icann.org/wsis20
Read the public archives for this mailing list: https://mm.icann.org/pipermail/wsis20/
_______________________________________________ By submitting your personal data, you consent to the processing of your personal data for purposes of subscribing to this mailing list accordance with the ICANN Privacy Policy (https://www.icann.org/privacy/policy) and the website Terms of Service (https://www.icann.org/privacy/tos). You can visit the Mailman link above to change your membership status or configuration, including unsubscribing, setting digest-style delivery or disabling delivery altogether (e.g., for a vacation), and so on.
-- Pari Esfandiari President *Global TechnoPolitics Forum <http://www.technopolitics.org> * *Pario <http://www.parioconsultants.com>- Architects of Ideas* info@TechnoPolitics.org <info@technopolitics.org> *Linkedin Profile <https://www.linkedin.com/in/pariesfandiari/>* Tel: +1-202*-735-1415* (Office) : +1-310-435-0888 (Cell) : +44-731-210-4049 (Cell)